One of my absolute favourite picture books to share with my class – especially during the first week of school – is All the Ways to Be Smart by Davina Bell and Allison Colpoys. I keep it right at the front of my back-to-school book stack because it never fails to spark beautiful conversations about what makes each of us unique.
But here’s the thing – this isn’t just a back-to-school book. I pull it out anytime during the year when my students need a little confidence boost or a reminder that being “smart” doesn’t just mean getting the best marks on a test. It’s about creativity, kindness, problem-solving, and so much more.
Why I Love All the Ways to Be Smart in the Classroom
This book is such a gem in the classroom because it helps students see that everyone brings something special to the table. It celebrates all kinds of strengths – from folding paper aeroplanes to comforting a friend – and helps kids recognise that their own “smarts” might look different from someone else’s, and that’s okay.
I find it really shifts the vibe in the room – students start noticing and appreciating their own abilities and those of their classmates. It’s a perfect way to build community, foster empathy, and boost self-esteem, right from day one.
Try These All the Ways to Be Smart Activities
If you’re keen to use this book in your classroom too, here are some easy, meaningful activities you can do with your students after reading:
🌟 Recognise Your Own “Smarts”
After reading the book, talk about all the different ways the children in the story were smart. Then, have students reflect on and share one way they feel smart and one way they’ve noticed a classmate being smart. You can even create a beautiful classroom display to celebrate everyone’s “smarts.”
✈️ Paper Aeroplane STEM Challenge
One of my favourite lines in the book is:
“Folding aeroplanes for flying… smart is kindness when there’s crying.”
I love using this line as a springboard for a STEM activity!
- Show students how to fold a simple paper aeroplane.
- Work together to write a procedure (great for procedural writing practice).
- Test out the planes to see how far they fly.
- Encourage students to tweak their designs and problem-solve — because figuring things out is also being smart!
If you want a ready-to-go resource for this activity, I’ve put together a How to Make a Paper Aeroplane STEM Activity & Procedural Writing pack — you can grab it here.
Save Time With Ready-to-Use Worksheets
I know how busy the first week of school can be, so if you’d like some printable All the Ways to Be Smart worksheets and activities, I’ve created a resource that’s perfect for K-3 students.
It includes:
✨ Writing prompts
✨ Discussion questions
✨ Creative activities
✨ And more — all designed to help students explore and celebrate their own strengths and their classmates’ too.
All the Ways to Be Smart has become such an important part of how I start the school year — and how I remind my students throughout the year that there are so many ways to shine. I hope these All the Ways to Be Smart activities help you and your students discover and celebrate all of your unique “smarts” too!
If you’d like more back-to-school book ideas and activities, you can check out the rest of my blog here.
Looking for more back-to-school ideas to kick off your year? Here are a few more activities and resources you might enjoy:
- 5 Back-to-School Books That Teach Kids About Emotions — great for social-emotional learning in those first weeks.
- Back-to-School Time Capsule Activity — a fun and reflective activity for students to look back on at the end of the year.
- First Day of School with The Kissing Hand — a classic, comforting way to welcome students on day one.
Feel free to explore these ideas and make your back-to-school season even more memorable!
Visit Little Learner Hub to find more great teaching resources!